Japan’s ‘Black Widow’ Sentenced to Death for Murdering Lovers The Kyoto District Court on Tuesday, November 7, ruled to have Chisako Kakehi, dubbed the “Black Widow,” put to death for poisoning elderly lovers with cyanide and amassing millions in insurance payouts and inheritance. Kakehi, 70, was arrested after having three lovers killed by the deadly poison and the attempted murder of a fourth. Her case has thus far been the second longest court case in Japan since a joint judge-jury system was introduced in 2009. The high profile case drew more than 560 people to the courtroom as they sought to bear witness to the outcome of the 135-day trial. Citing a lack of evidence, the defense had plead not guilty and argued that Kakehi had developed symptoms of dementia at the time of the murders. This defense, however, was rejected and Kakehi was said to be of sound mind when she committed her last murder in December 2013. According to Judge Ayako Nakagawa, “The accused made the victims drink a cyanide compound with a murderous intention in all the four cases.” Prosecutors stated that Kakehi killed the men after she was made beneficiary of life insurance policies
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and apparently accumulated about one billion yen in payouts over a 10year period. Police reportedly found traces of cyanide in her garbage at home, in addition to medical books and equipment for administering drugs at an apartment in her name. Kakehi is alleged to have had relationships with numerous men over the years, mostly those who were elderly or ill. She is also said to have met some of these men through dating agencies with a criteria for prospective partners to be wealthy and childless. After refusing to speak at the beginning of her trial, Kakehi finally broke the silence with an admission of killing her fourth husband in 2013. “I killed him... because he gave other women tens of millions of yen but did not give me anything,” she allegedly told the court. Kakehi also stated that she was ready to be hanged — “Even if I were executed tomorrow, I would die smiling.” Sources: http://bit.ly/2mrK26u http://bit.ly/2zyXSch